We`ll Decide Our Future, Quebec Says

June 24, 1990|By Storer H. Rowley, Chicago Tribune.

QUEBEC CITY — Declaring that English Canada has rejected his federalist program, Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa announced Saturday that this French-speaking province will no longer participate in constitutional talks with the rest of the country.

After Friday`s collapse of negotiations to incorporate Quebec into Canada`s constitution, a cautious Bourassa said Quebec would now embark on a lengthy, careful reassessment of its future-one he said the province views

``with confidence.``

``In preparing its future,`` he said, ``Quebec has very important assets

(which) involve exceptional labor, dynamic entrepreneurs, our industrial resources, as well as the exceptionally strategic position of Quebec`s geography in Canada and in North America.

``In short, Quebec has the freedom of its choices and it`s going to make its choices in realism and calmness,`` he added, touching off thunderous applause in the National Assembly building. ``I can assure you that my only goal would be the superior interests of the Quebec people.``

While he outlined a more independent attitude for the province, he stopped short of calling for either the continuation of Quebec within the confederation or a new movement toward some measure of sovereignty.

Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, who had argued the constitutional deal was essential to preserve Canadian unity, acknowledged Saturday ``the last remaining hope (for the accord) was dashed.``

In the narrow streets of this historic capital on the St. Lawrence River, where the English defeated the French in the pivotal colonial battle for Canada in 1759, many Quebecers seemed confused and disappointed Saturday.

There were mixed emotions over the failure of the controversial deal that was supposed to bring their province into the 1982 constitution it refused to sign. Saturday was the deadline and only eight of the required 10 provinces had approved it.

``I`m very sad about this, although many of my friends are extremely happy,`` said one young man. Recent polls had shown an unprecedented majority of Quebecers now favor some measure of independence.

``Meech Lake Is Dead,`` blared the French headline in La Presse, referring to the name of the accord that would have granted Quebec`s demand to be recognized in the constitution as a ``distinct society`` by virtue of its cherished French heritage.

In a nationally televised address from Ottawa, Mulroney blamed the province of Newfoundland for canceling a last-minute vote in its legislature some 30 hours before Saturday`s deadline. The pact also had stalled in the Manitoba legislature.

``We have missed an opportunity to turn the page and to start a new chapter of constitutional development,`` said a solemn Mulroney from Parliament Hill, asserting that too many special interest groups had tried to use the accord as a vehicle for their own pet constitutional projects.

Across Canada, opposition leaders were blaming Mulroney for its failure. Some even called for his resignation over the handling of the deal that fewer than half of all Canadians supported but that Mulroney had championed for three years. His 1984 election was due in part to the support of Quebec voters who endorsed his campaign promise to work for national reconciliation.

``While the world gears up for the 21st Century, we have failed to resolve a debate that predates Confederation (in 1867) itself. That is why I am so deeply disappointed that this attempt at constitutional reform has failed,`` Mulroney said in his 15-minute address.

``But there is no dishonor in having tried to overcome a serious threat to our unity,`` he added. ``Canada is not a nation of defeatists . . . and this is not a government of quitters. We will all be back at work next week.`` But even as Mulroney, a Quebecer, was vowing to ``mend divisions and heal wounds`` touched off by the bitter linguistic dispute over the accord, Bourassa, a Liberal and federalist up to now, was setting a new agenda for Quebec.

``The process of constitutional reform in Canada has been discredited. The government of Quebec will not agree to go back to the constitutional table,`` he said, asserting Quebec will not discuss the issues important to other provinces such as senate reform or a clause defining Canada`s fundamental characteristics.

Bourassa also said Quebec still would conduct ``bilateral negotiations``

with the federal government and with individual provinces, when it has interests at stake, but would not take part in annual meetings of the premiers from all provinces and the prime minister.

The Meech Lake Accord, which many thought would have given Quebec special powers to promote the French language, became increasingly unpopular among English-speaking Canadians concerned that all provinces should be equal in the constitution.

Mulroney drew withering criticism when he said in a recent newspaper interview that he had waited until the last minute to call all 10 provincial premiers to Ottawa for a marathon session earlier this month to try to sway holdout premiers to the deal.

``That`s the day we`re going to roll the dice,`` he was quoted as saying. He repeatedly argued the accord was essential to preserve Canadian unity.

But Newfoundland Premier Clyde Wells, who had unsuccessfully sought more time to hold a referendum in his province on the accord, accused Mulroney of